Page 262 of Double or Nothing

“What did you tell her?”

Bryce remains silent.

“BT!”

He looks like he’s going to crack into pieces. Bottom lip shaking.

“I told her to prepare herself for being an Otley.”

For several seconds, I can’t speak, just stare at him.

“You said what?”

“I was angry.”

“She’d just discovered Christopher manipulated her with a fake dying wish, and you told her to prep for fiancée duties?”

“I know it was cruel.”

“It’s worse than cruel, Bryce, it’s fucking horrific.”

I can imagine Alice there. Scared and quaking, with that unwanted diamond ring on her finger.

Bryce’s jaw tightens. Fighting off another round of tears.

“She said she’d go back in and tell everyone she’d changed her mind.”

“And?”

“I asked what would happen afterwards.”

“Who gives a shit what would happen afterwards?”

Bryce doesn’t swat the tears from his eyes this time, just lets them fall.

“I DO! Bill would make her life hell. Her mother would fall apart. Everyone would look at Alice as though she’d lost her mind.”

I fold my arms.

“Terrifying. Far more dangerous than marrying a deviant psycho.”

“You don’t understand Bill! Not like I do!”

“No. And apparently neither of you understands Christopher. He’s clearly a calculated player with no moral compass.”

Bryce turns towards the windows.

“What happened then?” I ask him. “Come on. Don’t leave me fucking hanging.”

“She tried to stop me leaving.”

“And you left anyway?”

“I couldn’t stay.”

“Couldn’t stay? Fucking hell. Baulking out is rapidly becoming your specialist subject.”

Bryce’s face turns cold.